BKN-PLAYER-NEWS-WIRE -

Part 1

August 10, 2012|Reuters

The Sports Xchange

08/10/2012 NBA Note - Houston Rockets Livingston, Shaun

G Shaun Livingston was acquired in a trade with the Bucks largely so the Rockets could move up in the draft. But with the changes to the roster, he will be given a chance to compete for backup point guard minutes and made sure the team knew he was open to any role. He flew from Florida to Las Vegas just to meet with Rockets coach Kevin McHale, and McHale came away believing that Livingston's experience in the NBA could be valuable for his young team.

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NBA Note - Houston Rockets Lin, Jeremy

G Jeremy Lin was barely two weeks removed from his packed press conference introduction in Houston when he embarked on a trip to Taiwan and China that had been scheduled well before he joined Yao Ming's former team. Lin would likely have been greeted with the familiar madness, but with his move to the Rockets and their still strong Chinese following, he got another taste of the sort of celebrity he has become in Taiwan and China.

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NBA Note - Dallas Mavericks Nowitzki, Dirk

F Dirk Nowitzki is finally off the market. No, we're not talking about the free agent market. Nowitzki is finally done with bachelorhood -- he officially married Jessica Olsson. After several ceremonies around the globe, including in Olsson's native Kenya, a state district judge in Texas confirmed that he married the couple in Nowitzki's home. The couple was said to honeymoon somewhere in the Caribbean. The 34-year-old Nowitzki has two seasons left on his contract as he enters his 15th NBA season -- and first as a married man.

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NBA Note - Dallas Mavericks James, Bernard

C Bernard James is 27 years old, so he's not like most rookies. At his age and with the Mavs lacking size in the middle, the Florida State center and Air Force staff sergeant could have a chance to make an immediate impact with defense and rebounding. He got off to an encouraging start at the Las Vegas Summer League, finishing fifth in the league in rebounds, averaging 9.0 a game and twice in five games finishing with a double-double.

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NBA Note - Dallas Mavericks Jones, Dominique

G Dominique Jones was the lead point guard during the Las Vegas Summer League because rookie Jared Cunningham was sidelined for the entirety by a hamstring issue. Jones again showed scoring prowess in the summer but also took his lumps. The third-year guard, taken at No. 25 in 2010, has resided at the end of the bench his first two seasons, and that might not change this season. The combo guard has Darren Collison, Delonte West and Rodrigue Beaubois ahead of him at point guard and O.J. Mayo, Vince Carter and Dahntay Jones ahead of him at shooting guard.

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NBA Note - Houston Rockets Johnson, JaJuan

F JaJuan Johnson joined the Rockets roster in the sign-and-trade deal that allowed Courtney Lee to jump to the Celtics, but the Rockets do want to give him a look in the mix inside. Johnson joins a team particularly crowded at power forward -- at least six others will compete for roster spots or playing time -- but Johnson's potential to fill in at center could give him an edge.

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NBA Note - New Orleans Hornets Mason, Roger

G Roger Mason was signed as a free agent. Mason (6-5), an eight-year veteran, has career averages of 6.7 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 18.1 minutes per game over 424 contests (88 starts).

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NBA Note - New Orleans Hornets Rivers, Austin

G Austin Rivers' on-court transition to the NBA was set back briefly when he underwent surgery to clean up bone spurs in his right ankle in late July. Rivers, the 10th overall pick in the draft, saw the injury flare up during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Rivers is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for training camp.

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NBA Note - New Orleans Hornets Lopez, Robin

C Robin Lopez's transition to the Hornets was delayed by surgery shortly after he was acquired from the Suns in a three-team trade. Lopez had a tear of his medial meniscus in his left knee repaired. He's expected to be ready for the start of training camp.

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NBA Note - New Orleans Hornets Henry, Xavier

G Xavier Henry underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee. Henry is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.